HORTON HEARS A "WHA-A-A?!"

There's no question that our parks are exceptional and a source of pride for Central Oregonians, but I suggest Mr. Horton and members of the BPRD board step outside their comfy digs in Dreamland for a stroll through our local economic zone.

They'll meet the unemployed, the barely employed, and the employed at a fraction of the salary they once earned and are qualified for. Certainly they won't be able to avoid bumping into some of our recent homeless and suddenly impoverished, as well as many seniors barely surviving on Social Security while paying property taxes not based on the shrinking value of their homes.

And chances are they also will run into a thief or two given that crime rates increase when poverty spurs desperation. Let's hope we still have enough law enforcement employees, jail space and/or social, mental health and juvenile justice services to keep our community safe.

In these times, nearly everyone is forced to put their dreams on hold and focus on remaining solvent. I'm confident there will be better days ahead but for now the best thing BPRD can do for those they serve is to keep existing parks safe and their program costs affordable for those who need them most.

If you happen to catch a BPRD leader dreaming, you might encourage him or her to take a walk with you. Hopefully, it will inspire the withdrawal of fantasy bond measure 9-86. If not, we must vote it down.

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